Punch assembly for perforating materials



July 16. 1968 H. w. HENN 3,392,6117

PUNCH ASSEMBLY FOR PERFORATING MATERIALS Filed March 2, 1966 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 2

INVENTOR.

g 1 HAPPY WALT/{ER hE/V/V y 6. 1968 H. w. HENN 3,392,617

PUNCH ASSEMBLY FOR PERFORATING MATERIALS Filed March 2, 1966 5 Sh sh et2 ynzzy WAL 7-52 HENN July 16, 1968 H. w. HENN 3,392,617

PUNCH ASSEMBLY FOR PERFORATING MATERIALS Filed March 2, 1966 5Sheets-Sheet 5 FIq. 5

l 32 E I i INVENTOR. 29 F G 6 Haney Wm. mew HEN/V July 16, 1968 v w. N3,392,617

PUNCH ASSEMBLY FOR PERFORATING MATERIALS Filed March 2, 1966 5Sheets-Sheet 4 i MW! is I INVENTOR.

L TH E? F '7 HARRY WA HE/VN July 16, 1968 H. w. HENN PUNCH ASSEMBLY FORPERFORATING MATERIALS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 2, 1966 llvv vrozzvHA REY WALT/{ER E United States Patent Ot'fice 3,392,617 Patented July16, 1968 3,392,617 PUNCH ASSEMBLY FOR PERFORATING MATERIALS HarryWalther Henn, 9925 Daly Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45231 Filed Mar. 2, 1966,Ser. No. 531,214 9 Claims. (Cl. 83-687) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Thisapplication discloses a punch assembly for perforating materials inwhich a series of openings are pierced at close spacing in multiple rowslaterally and longitudinally and in which punches are mounted in thepunch assembly to be carried by a punch press in removable rows forinsertion or removal of individual punches or rows of punches withoutdisturbing adjacent individual or rows of punches.

This invention relates to a punching device for perforating materials,and more particulanly to the construction of the punch assembly which isadapted for use in any piercing operation by which a series of openingsare arranged in very close spacing in multiple rows, both laterally andlongitudinally, that can be punched simultaneously and prevent thedistortion of the material between the openings.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a punch assembly withpunches arranged in rows laterally and longitudinally that permits theremoval or insertion of any row of punches, or a single punch, withoutdisturbing or disassembling any other rows of punches or any other punchin a particular row.

Another object of my invention is to provide a punch assembly withpunches arranged in odd number of rows laterally and/or longitudinally,whereby the entire odd row of punches may be removed without disturbingor disassembling any other rows of punches and a single punch can beremoved from the odd rows of punches without disturbing or removingother punches in the odd row.

A further object of my invention is to provide a combination of rows ofpunches and spacers for the punches whereby the means securing thespacers in the punch assembly also secure rows of punches in spacedrelationship in the punch assembly and permit the removal of a punch orpunches Without disturbing the position of other punches.

The distinctive object of my invention is to provide spacers adapted tofix the lateral spacing of the punches and clamp the punches, arrangedeither in single or paired rows that are slida'ble during assembly, onthe means for securing the spacers and punches in fixed operativeposition within the punch assembly and allow selected punches to beremoved or replaced from a row without disturbing the position of otherpunches in a row or adjacent rows.

These and other objects will be made apparent by the specifications anddrawings forming part of this application.

In the drawings, similar parts in the several views have been given thesame reference numerals.

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of my punch assembly having an odd row ofpunches in both directions.

FIGURE 2 is a section through the punch assembly having an odd row ofpunches in both directions taken on line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of a punch assembly having an even number ofrows laterally and an odd row longitudinally.

FIGURE 4 is a section through the punch assembly taken on line 44 ofFIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of a die assembly having odd rows of punchesin both directions.

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation of the punch and die assemblies having oddrows in both directions with the punches down into the dies.

FIGURE 7 is an end elevation of the punch and die assemblies with thepunches down into the dies.

FIGURE 8 is a top plan view of a T shaped spacer and two punchesassembled together.

FIGURE 9 is a front elevation of the T shaped spacer and two punchesassembled together.

FIGURE 10 is a side elevation of the T shaped spacer and one of thepunches assembled together.

FIGURE 11 is an isometric view of a spacer for an odd row of puncheswith a punch assembled on the spacer.

FIGURE 12 is an isometric view of a keeper block for spacers andpunches.

FIGURE 13 is an isometric view of a die steel for rectangular openingsbroken to indicate its use for odd or even spacing of punches.

FIGURE 14 is an isometric view of a T shaped spacer for a pair ofpunches.

FIGURE 15 is an isometric view of a punch.

FIGURE 16 is an isometric view of a die steel for openings havingirregular or rounded contours broken to indicate its use for odd or evenspacing of punches.

Referring to FIGURES 1 through 7, there is illustrated a backup plate 1for mounting of the punch assembly and securing it to a punch press.Crosswise of the backup plate there are key slots 2 in which dovetailkeys 3 are removably fixed. The dovetail keys are for rows of pairedpunches. T shaped spacers 4 have slabs: 5 and extending ribs 6 anddovetail slots 7 (see FIGURE 14) for fixedly retaining them on thedovetail key 3 and also slidably retaining them on the dovetail keyduring assembly and disassembly of a row of punches.

Referring to FIGURE 8, it should be :noted that ends 8 of the punchesextend micromatically beyond 9 of the slabs 5 of the T shaped spacerswhich insures maximum clamping of the punches on a particular dovetailkey when a keeper block 10 is placed between a row of paired punches.There is a T shaped spacer tor each pair of punches, and the slabs 5, inconjunction with the ribs 6, fix the space between puncheslongitudinally on the dovetail key and the ribs, also space the punchessidewise in each pair. The punches are illustrated as being rectangularin shape but it is not intended to limit my invention to thisconfiguration. Any shape on the tip of the punch can be used. Thepunches need not be identical in dimension or contour, even whenarranged in pairs on a particular spacer. The keeper blocks 10 extendacross and are removably fixed between each double row of punches. Fixedin place, the keeper blocks wedge against the ends 8 of the punchesthereby forcing and securing the punches in fixed crosswise position inthe punch assembly on the dovetail key. In addition, the dovetail keysare adapted to be drawn upward by the screws 38 securing them in thebackup plate and insuring clamping of the punch between the keeperblock, backup plate and dovetail key. The keeper blocks may berectangular in shape, as illustrated, or have sloping sides withmatching sloping sides on the punches and spacers for greater wedgingaction.

Corresponding to the angle of the dovetail key, there is a bevel 11 at atop 12 of the punches making full wedging contact and secure clamping ofthe punches on the dovetail key when the keeper blocks and the dovetailkeys are secured on the backup plate between a row of punches byappropriate screws. The keeper blocks force and hold the punches on thekeys and in turn the keys force the top 12 of the punch solidly incontact and fixed on the backup plate which absorbs the force of thepiercing during a punching operation and also keeps the punch secured onthe upward returned stroke. A curved surface 13 provides a fillet forstrength and clearance 14 on the punch to prevent interference toclamping of the punches on the key because of the width of the key whenthe punches are clamped onto a key. There are illustrated end caps 15,spaced and fixed on the backup plate at the ends of a row of pairedpunches in the punch assembly between the ends of the keeper blocks 10.The construction is used when the punches are closely spaced and no roomis available for screws to hold the keeper in place. When the punchesare spaced further apart, the keeper blocks will be wider for fasteningscrews, and the ends of the keeper blocks will terminate at the endblocks. Vertical sides 16 of the end caps provide a fixed length betweenthem for a row of punches and spacers. The pressure between the punchesand spacers in a row between the end blocks provides a sliding fit andwhen the keeper blocks are removed from between rows of punches anysingle punch can be removed and replaced without disturbing any otherpunches in a row. The space between each pair of punches longitudinallyis fixed by the thickness of the slab in combination with the ribs ofthe T shaped spacers.

The end caps, and the keeper blocks, are held in alignment and removablyfixed on the backup plate by square keys 17 secured in slots in thebackup plate. Spaced and fixed between the end caps there are side caps18 at right angles to the end caps on the sides of the punch assemblyhaving an even number of rows of paired punches which are held inalignment on other keys 19 that are removably secured in the backupplate for an even number of rows. When there is an odd row, the keyadjacent to the odd row is omitted (to be explained). The side capsprovide a vertical abutment for the outside rows of punches and spacersand hold them in alignment in relation to the dovetail key. To remove apunch from the outside row, the screws for securing the side caps areturned to move the side cap down from the backup plate thereby releasingthe pressure between the side cap and the bevel on the punch from therespective dovetail key and space combination. When the side cap isloosened from the backup plate anyone of the punches in the outside rowcan be removed without disturbing any other punch in the row. Theremoval of a punch is accomplished by tipping the punch and sliding itout from between the spacers and away from the dovetail key.

The side caps and end caps are secured to the backup plate byappropriate screws and together they form an absolute internal measuredframe around the outer edges of the T shaped spacers and punches to holdthem fixed in proper location and insure positive location of piercedopenings in the materials being punched.

Referring to FIGURES 1, 2 and 11, there is a half dovetail key 20 thatis removably secured in a slot in the backup plate. This key is for asingle or odd row of punches. There is a spacer 21 for each punch. Thespacer has a bevel 22 corresponding to the bevel on the punch anddovetail key and a clearance pocket 23. A recessed portion 24 isprovided and corresponds to the width and depth of the punch. When thepunch is placed in the recess of the spacer the side 25 of the spacer isflush with the side 26 of the punch. An end 27 of the punch extendsmicromatically beyond an edge 36 of the spacer. The keeper bar, securedin the backup plate, wedges the punch and spacer securely on the halfdovetail key. With this construction there is no need for a side blockto keep the end row of punches securely in operable position.

The die consists of a backup plate 28 with internal opening 29 throughwhich slugs are discharged after punching. Conventional die steelmembers 30 are machined to suit the contour of the punches, which inthis case is rectangular in form, as shown in FIGURE 13, wherein atransverse body portion 31 has spaced ribs 32. They are fixed to thebackup plate with their respective cavities aligned with the punches.The transverse body portion of adjacent steels are placed against theribs of another steel to form and complete rectangular cutting edgesaligned with the punches. With punches having irregular or roundedcontours, die steel members 33 are arranged with ribs 37 on both sidesof a transverse body portion 34 and cavities 35 machined to conform withthe contour of the punches. The ribs of these die steels are buttedtogether to form the complete die cavity and cutting edges.

Assembly of the punches is accomplished by securing the square keys 14and 16 in the backup plate. End and side caps are secured on the backupplate a distance apart. The paired punches, with their spacers, are thenslid on the dovetail keys which are movably secured in the backup plateuntil a particular row of punches has the required number of punches.After forming adjacent rows of paired punches, a keeper block isinserted between them which forces the punches and spacers into wedgedposition on the dovetail keys. Additional wedging is obtained by drawingthe dovetail keys upward with the screws that hold the dovetail key infixed position in the backup plate. To remove any punch from rows ofpaired punches, the keeper block between the rows is removed frombetween them which releases the wedging action on the punches. Thepunches can then be rotated away from the dovetail key and easilyremoved without disturbing any other punches.

An outside or odd row of punches are formed by assembling a single punchin the recess of the spacer. The punch and spacer are positioned on thehalf dovetail key. A keeper block is secured on the backup plate onadjacent and odd row of punches. The keeper block forces the punches,along with its spacers, onto the half dovetail key and secures them inoperable position in the punch assembly. When the keeper block isremoved, any punch in the odd row can be removed without disturbing anyother punches in the odd row of punches or any other rows of punches inthe assembly.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. A multiple punch assembly for stamping a series of laterally andlongitudinally spaced rows of holes simultaneously and in which punchesare mounted in the punch assembly in removable rows for insertion andremoval of individual and rows of punches without disturbing adjacentpunches comprising,

a punch holder for said punch assembly, said punch holder adapted to bemounted in a punch press,

a back-up plate forming part of said punch assembly,

dovetail keys means spaced, disposed and secured on the under surface ofthe backup plate and adapted tol be adjusted up and down in relation tothe backup p ate,

a series of paired punches mounted in said punch holder the upper end ofeach of said punches having a half key slot for detachably securing saidpair of punches on said dovetail keys and the lower surface of saidbackup plate, each of said punches adapted to be individually removedfrom any one of said dovetail keys without disturbing matching oradjacent punches,

spacers having ribs to space a pair of said punches laterally aside saidribs along said dovetail keys and other pairs of punches adjacent andlongitudinal of I said keys spaced longitudinally by said spacers, saidand removable end capsadjacent. to the ends of said single puncheswithout disturbing any other punches 5 ally and longitudinally spacedrows of holes, as set forth in claim 1,

and a row of single punches and spacers spaced from and adjacent to arow of paired punches providing an odd row of punches, removable keeperblock secured between a row of spaced punches to secure said punchesfrom longi- 1O paired punches, and said odd row of punches to setudinalmovement along said dovetail keys and secure said odd rows of punches onone of id d cure said punches in a predetermined fixed position tailkeys and backup plate, providing a means for adjacent each to the otherin said multiple punch removably securing said single row of punchesadassembly. jacent said row of paired punches,

2. A multiple punch assembly for stamping a series of and said dovetailkeys adjustably secured between said laterally and longitudinally spacedrows of holes, as set spaced punches adapted to amplify the wedgingbeforth in claim 1, tween said backup plate and said keeper block.

and series of longitudinal rows of paired punches on 7. A multipleperfor-ator for stamping a series of laterlongitudinal rows of saiddovetail keys sidewise each ally and longitudinally spaced rows ofholes, as set forth to the other removably secured in said multiple inclaim 1, punch assembly and said rows of punches adapted and a row ofsingle punches and spacers spaced from to be removed separately withoutdisturbing other and adjacent to a row of paired punches providingadjacent rows of punches, an odd row of punches,

a keeper block interposed longitudinally between each .a removablekeeper block secured between a row of linear opposite row of pairedpunches removably sepaired punches and said odd row of punches tosecured to said backup plate to retain said punches on cure said odd rowof punches on one of said dovesaid dovetail keys in linear spacedrelationship, tail keys and backup plate, said keeper block proand sidecaps in combination with said keeper blocks viding means for removablysecuring said row of sinto secure said punches on said dovetail keys ina fixed gle punches adjacent to said row of paired punches position andproviding a means for separately reand said single punches adapted to beremoved indimoving a row of punches from said multiple punch viduallyfrom said row of single punches without assembly, disturbing any otherpunches in said row of single 3. A multi 1e erforator for stamping aseries of later- P ally and longitudinally spaced rows of holes as setforth in a half dovetall Y lollgltlldlnally aslde Said dovetall claim 1,keys secured to said back up plate,

d a lti l ie f longitudinal rows of paired said half dovetail key .adustably secured to said single punches, arranged in multiple oppositerows, secured row o Punches Spacers adapted to QP Y the on longitudinalrows of respective dovetail keys sideg g between 531d backup Plate andsaid keeper wise each to the other,

and said punches adapted to be separately removed fr m 8. A multipleperforator for stamping a series of latersaid perforator withoutdisturbing the position of ally and longitudinally spaced rows of holesas set forth other punches in said rows, in claim 1,

removable keeper blocks interposed between each row and a row of singlepunches and spacers spaced from of paired punches adapted to be removedfrom be and adjacent to a row of paired punches providing an tweenopposite rows of punches and platine spacers odd row of punches, to holdsaid punches in fixed position on said dovea removable keeper blocksecured between a row of tail keys and backup plate providing a meansfor paired punches and said odd row of punches to seremoving punchesfrom said punch assembly after cure said odd row of punches on one ofsaid doveremoval of said keeper block. tail keys and backup plate, saidkeeper block pro- 4. A multiple perforator for stamping a series oflaterviding means for removably securing said row of sinally andlongitudinally spaced rows of holes, as set forth gle punches adjacentsaid pair of punches and said i l i 1, punches adapted to be removedindividually from said and a row of single punches and spacers spacedfrom row of single punches without disturbing any other and adjacent toa row of paired punches providing an punches in said row of singlepunches or any other punches in any row of said punches,

half dovetail key longitudinally aside said dovetail keys secured tosaid back up plate,

said half dovetail adjustably secured to said single row odd rows ofpunches, a removable keeper block secured between a row of a pairedpunches and said odd rows of punches to secure said odd row of puncheson one of said dovesaid odd row of punches on one of said dovetail keysand backup plate, said keeper block providing means for removablysecuring said row of single punches adjacent said pair of punches andsaid punches adapted to be removed individually from said row of tailkeys and backup plate, said keeper block provid- 30 of punches andspacers adapted to amplify the wedging a means for removably SecuringSaid single row ing between said 'backup plate and said keeper bar, 0fPunches adjacent Said row of Paired punchesand said end cap for evenrows of paired punches re- 5. A multiple perforator for stamping aseries of latermov-ably secured to said backup plate adjacent end allyand longitudinally spaced rows of holes, as set forth rows f punches d dto removed to release in claim 1, said punches from said half dovetailkey to thereby and a row of Single Punches and Spacers P from remove aspecific punch from said end rows without an adjacent row of pairedpunches PIOVldlI'lg an odd disturbing any other punch in said end rowsor any row of Punches, other rows of punches. removable keeper blocksecured between a row of 9 A 1 f f f 1 paired punches and said odd rowof punches to secure mu up e per orator Stamping a Saws 0 ate? ally andlongitudinally spaced row of holes, as set forth in claim 1,

and row of single punches and spacers spaced from and adjacent to rowsof paired punches on the sides of said perforator,

half dovetail keys spaced longitudinally aside said dovetail keys onsides of said perforator secured to said back up plate,

keeper blocks removably secured between said paired punches and rows ofsingle punches on the sides of said perforator adapted to fixedly securesaid single punches and spacers in said perforator on said half dovetailkeys and permit the removal of a particular single punch from said rowsof single punches without disturbing any other punch in said single rowsor paired punches in other rows of punches.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Stimpson et al 83687 Page 83690Henn 83698 X Airlie 83698 X Sorensen 83690 Wales 234-131 10 WILLIAM S.LAWSON, Primary Examiner.

